Northridge, Calif. - Four games in two days makes for another busy weekend for the nationally-ranked Cal State Northridge women's water polo team.

The most important game of the quartet is a Big West Conference game on Saturday (4/10/10) at 12th-ranked UC Santa Barbara. Game time is Noon. It will be the third meeting between the two teams. On Feb. 7 at the UCSD Invitational, the Matadors recorded an 8-3 victory as Sydney Sonoda and Kirra Kylander each scored two goals to lead the Matadors to the win. Senior All-American Jillian Stapf had a season-high 16 saves. CSUN outscored the Gauchos, 3-0, in the second period to take a 5-1 halftime lead. Then on Feb. 28 at the UC Irvine Invitational, the Matadors registered a 10-6 victory over the Gauchos. CSUN broke open a close game, outscoring UCSB, 4-1, in the second period to take a 7-3 halftime lead. Seven different CSUN players scored at least one goal with Whitney Delgado and Alison Pierce pacing the attack with two goals apiece.

Cal State Northridge will hope to begin another long winning streak after top-ranked USC (4/3/10) beat the Matadors to end CSUN's season-long ten-game winning streak. UCSB will be a tough team. UC Santa Barbara is 15-8 overall and 2-0 in the Big West Conference. The Gauchos are 9-1 in their home pool.

Following the CSUN-UCSB game at Noon on Saturday, the Matadors will play a non-league game at 3 p.m. against 19th-ranked Cal Baptist at the UCSB pool. On Jan. 30, 2010, Cal State Northridge scored a narrow 10-9 victory over Cal Baptist. Sydney Sonoda scored a career-high four goals while Whitney Delgado added three goals. Jillian Stapf collected eleven saves.

Senior Salute
Cal State Northridge will honor seven outstanding seniors who have contributed to the national prominence of Cal State Northridge women's water polo in recent years ... Alexis Gackstetter, Renee Gargiulo, Kirra Kylander, Kristin McLaughlin, Alison Pierce, Ashley Rogers and Jillian Stapf have combined for 71 wins in the past four years along with a Big West regular season title last year ... Over the last two seasons, the seven seniors have helped provide two 20-win seasons (20 wins in 2009, 21 thus far in 2010) ... Going into this weekend's games, Gackstetter, Gargiulo, Kylander, McLaughlin, Pierce, Rogers and Stapf have scored 301 goals, more than 400 assists, and more than 500 steals.

Team Tally
The Matadors are continuing their quest to break the school record for most wins in a season ... Currently, CSUN is 21-6 with seven more regular season games and three games scheduled for the Big West Tournament (4/23 - 4/25) ... The school record is 24 (24-8) set by the 2003 Matador squad.

Rankings Review
Cal State Northridge continues to maintain its #10 national ranking, according to this week's Collegiate Water Polo Association poll find ... It is the sixth straight week CSUN has been ranked tenth in the country ... Pac-10 schools continue to be the elite collegiate water polo teams in the country ... Five Pac-10 schools are ranked in the Top 10 led by #1 USC, #2 Stanford, #3 California, #4 and five-time defending NCAA champion UCLA, and ninth-ranked Arizona State ... Hawai'i is ranked fifth, while San Jose State is sixth, Loyola Marymount is ranked seventh, and Michigan is eighth ... Other Big West schools ranked in the national Top-20 besides tenth-ranked Cal State Northridge are UC Santa Barbara (12th), UC Irvine (13th), UOP (16th) and UC Davis (18th).

Conference Clips
Cal State Northridge still has the #1 defense in the Big West Conference ... The Matadors have given up only 6.59 goals per game ... CSUN's offense is second-best in the conference at 10.26 gpg ... Pacific is the league leader at 10.81 goals per game ... Nicole Concialdi and Jillian Stapf are ranked 1-2 in the league in giving up goals per game ... Concialdi has given up 5.73 gpg while Stapf
is in giving up only 6.92 goals per game ... Stapf's 9.79 saves per game is third-best in the BWC behind UCSB's Ruth Milne at 10.74 spg and UOP's Brooke Miller at 10.57 spg ... Three CSUN players are among the top five scorers in the Big West Conference ... Super sophomore Whitney Delgado has 58 goals, second-best in the Big West Conference behind Jasmine Myles of Pacific with 68 ... Alison Pierce is fourth with 39 goals while Sydney Sonoda has 33 goals, seventh-best in the league.

Honors HooplaKristin McLaughlin's three goals, four steals, two assists and a field block against UC Irvine (4/2/10) helped her become this Big West Player of the Week ... McLaughlin's hat trick and career-high against the Anteaters propelled the Matadors to an important 11-9 double-overtime league verdict ... McLaughlin becomes the fourth Matador player to earn Big West Player of the Week honors this year ... The others are Jillian Stapf, Whitney Delgado and Heidi Pettinger.

Career Chatter
Four Cal State Northridge players find themselves fighting for a spot in the school record Top 10 for career goals ... Sophomore Whitney Delgado (2009-) is seventh all-time in scoring with 93 goals ... Senior Kirra Kylander (2007-) has 86 career goals, good for eighth place in the record book ... Junior Chelsea Curran (2007-) has 82 career goals which is tenth all-time in school history while Sydney Sonoda (2008-) is eleventh all-time in career goals with 80 ... Senior Kristin McLaughlin (2007-) will end her four-year CSUN career ranked in the school record book Top-10 in career steals (184, #3) and career assists (118, #4) ... Another senior, Kirra Kylander (2007-) is third all-time in career assists (134) and tied for ninth all-time in steals (83) with Genaye Mowrer (2004-05) ... Senior Renee Gargiulo (2007-) is seventh all-time in career steals (115) and seventh all-time in career assists (94) ... Senior All-American Jillian Stapf continues to improve on her career saves school record ... Stapf's 191 saves (#8 for a single season) this year gives her 1,213 for her four-year career.

Fast FactsKirra Kylander's team-leading 51 assists this year are fourth-best for a single season in school history ... Whitney Delgado is not only a scoring machine, but she is third on the Matadors in assists (24, #3) and fourth in steals (24, #3) this year ... Kristin McLaughlin is enjoying a triple double-double season with a team-leading 32 steals and 34 assists, and 16 goals ... Ten CSUN players have scored at least eleven goals this year ... Cal State Northridge is quick to grab the lead in games ... In the first period alone, the Matadors have outscored the opposition (81-to-45), and enjoy a 76-to-34 goal margin in the second period.

Delgado's DialogueWhitney Delgado has certainly gained a lot of attention during her excellent sophomore season at Cal State Northridge ... Below is a feature story that appeared just previous to the team's games against UC Irvine (4/2/30) and top-ranked USC (4/3/10) in the Ventura Star-Free Press.

By Rhiannon Pokey (Staff Writer - Ventura Star-Free Press) Northridge, Calif. - There was a split second when Whitney Delgado (Thousand Oaks) considered giving up water polo.

Delgado had just graduated from high school and didn't know if she wanted to continue playing in college. But during the Junior Olympics that summer, the Cal State Northridge coaches approached Delgado and offered her a scholarship.

Although Delgado was still unsure about the offer, she realized turning down a chance to play Division I water polo was something she would regret.

"Now I just can't even see myself not playing anymore," Delgado said. "It's become my life and it would be weird not having to go to practice or games on the weekend. I just love it too much."

It's obvious from Delgado's performance this season.

The sophomore attacker entered the week with a team-leading 53 goals (currently 58 goals), which is tied for sixth place (now fifth place) in the school record books for a single season. With at least 11 games still remaining, Delgado is on pace to break the record of 74.

Delgado's 88 career goals (now 93) in less than two seasons already ranks seventh best in school history.

"Whitney has capitalized on every opportunity that she has been given in order to score goals," said CSUN interim head coach Marcelo Leonardi. "Her teammates create a lot of opportunities for her to score and she has also done a great job of creating opportunities for herself."

Delgado was voted CSUN's Rookie of the Year last season after scoring 35 goals. But the communications major never imagined such a large increase in her production.

"It just wasn't expected for me to come out and have the season I am having I guess," said Delgado, who also has 24 assists (now 24) and 21 steals (now 24). "It is a little surprising to see my name out there for it every once in a while. You can never get used to that."

Delgado's progression can partially be explained by her increased experience with the college game.

"It took some time adjusting because I was a lot weaker coming in from high school," Delgado said. "The practices here are 10 times more intense and so much harder. It definitely took a lot of work to try to even be able to hang with the girls. The speed and tempo is so much faster."

The 10th-ranked Matadors have won 20 games (now 21) for the third straight season, and are looking to defend their Big West Conference regular-season title.
Delgado plans to do everything in her power to help continue the success.

"The whole team concept that we have going right now is really good and we are flowing well together," Delgado said.

The 2010 Cal State Northridge Varsity Water Polo Roster

Sabrina Anonas, Two-Meter, RS Freshman, Coronado, Ca.
Has tallied 14 goals ... Has scored at least one goal in nine games with a career-high three goals in games against Pomona-Pitzer (3/6/10), Penn State-Behrend (3/7/10) and Occidental (3/11/10).

Nicole Concialdi, Goalkeeper, Junior, Chino Hills, Ca.
Has tallied a career-high 69 saves ... Has ten or more saves in three games including a career-high 15 saves against Pomona-Pitzer (3/6/10), 12 against Penn State-Behrend (3/7/10) and eleven against Fresno Pacific (1/30/10) ... Has 112 career saves in three seasons at Cal State Northridge, fifth-best in school history ... Tops in the Big West Conference in giving up only 5.73 goals per game ... Ranks fourth in the league stats in saves per game at 9.20.

Chelsea Curran, Two-Meter, RS Junior, Chino, Ca.
Among the team leaders in scoring with 20 goals ... Scored two goals in games against Cal Baptist (1/30/10) and Cal Lutheran (3/6/10) ... Has scored 82 career goals at Cal State Northridge, tenth-best in school history.

Whitney Delgado, Attacker, Sophomore, Thousand Oaks, Ca.
One of the top players in the nation ... Has scored a team-leading 58 goals (#2 in the Big West Conference behind UOP's Jasmine Myles with 68 ... Has scored at least one goal in 25 of 26 games she has played ... Has tallied two or more goals in 17 games including a career-high six goals against nationally-ranked Arizona State (3/6/10)... Scored four goals against Cal Lutheran (3/6/10) ... The team's leading scorer in eleven games ... Has scored 93 goals in less than two seasons at Cal State Northridge, seventh-best in school history ... Among the team leaders this year in assists (24, #3) and steals (24, #3).

Renee Gargiulo, Driver, Senior, Clovis, Ca.
Among the team leaders in scoring with 19 goals ... Has scored two goals in seven games ... Has 115 career steals, seventh-best in school history ... Has 94 career assists, seventh-best in school history.

Kirra Kylander, Driver, Senior, Murrieta, Ca.
A double-digit scorer with 15 goals ... Has scored two goals in games against Azusa Pacific (1/29/10), UC Santa Barbara (2/7/10), Villanova (3/7/10) and Redlands (3/14/10) ... Has scored 86 career goals at Cal State Northridge, eighth-best in school history ... Leads the team in assists with 46, eighth-best for a single season in school history ... Her 134 career assists are third-best in school history ... Her 83 career steals are tenth-best in school history.

Kristin McLaughlin, Utility, Senior, La Canada, Ca.
This week's Big West Athlete of the Week ... Scored three goals, added four steals in the 11-9 double overtime win over UC Irvine (4/2/10) to learn league Player of the Week honors ... A double-digit scorer with 16 goals ... Scored two goals in games against Azusa Pacific (1/29/10) and Villanova (3/7/10) ... Leads the team in assists (34) and steals (32) ... Her 184 career steals are third-best in school history ... Has 118 career assists, fourth-best in the CSUN record book.

Kathryn Outzen, Attacker, Sophomore, San Mateo, Ca.
Has scored in two games including a season-high two goals against Fresno Pacific (1/30/10).

Heidi Pettinger, Two-Meter, Sophomore, Corona, Ca.
Named Big West Player of the Week for her three goals and three steals against Long Beach State (3/27/10) ... Among the team leaders in goals scored with 22 (#19 in the BWC) ... Also scored three goals in games against Hartwick (2/6/10) and Wagner (3/11/10).

Alison Pierce, Utility, Senior, Citrus Heights, Ca.
Second on the team in scoring (39 goals, #4 in the BWC) ... Has scored at least two goals in nine games ... Scored a career-high five goals against Marist (2/6/10) ... Leads the team in kick outs drawn (49).

Sydney Sonoda, Utility, Junior, Murrieta, Ca.
Third on the team in scoring with 33 goals (#7 in the BWC) ... Has scored at least one goal in 15 games ... Scored a career-high five goals against Hartwick (2/14/10) ... Scored four goals against Cal Baptist (1/30/10) ... Has scored 80 career goals at Cal State Northridge, eleventh-best in school history.

Jillian Stapf, Goalkeeper, Senior, Hudsonville, Mi
The school record holder in career saves with 1,213 (348 in 2007, 287 in 2008, a school record 387 in 2009, 191 in 2010) ... Has collected 191 saves this year, eighth-best in school history ... Has collected double-digit in saves with a season-high 16 against UC Santa Barbara (2/7/10), Hartwick (2/14/10) and Wagner (3/11/10), 12 against UC San Diego (2/27/10) and UC Irvine (4/2/10), 11 against Cal Baptist (1/30/10) and Long Beach State (3/27/10), and ten against UCLA (2/13/10), Loyola Marymount (2/28/10), Arizona State (3/6/10) and Colorado State (3/14/10) ... Is giving up 6.92 goals per game, second-best in the Big West Conference ... Her 9.79 saves per game is third-best in the conference.